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Author: Marillia Veldkornet

Media Release: Garden Route students graduate after completing Cater Care Training Programme

Media Release: Garden Route students graduate after completing Cater Care Training Programme

For Immediate Release
5 February 2020

Friday, 31 January 2020, marked another prestigious highlight for representatives of the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) and the Francois Ferreira School of Culinary Art, when they witnessed the graduation of seventeen (17) Cater Care students from the Garden Route, in the presence of their parents. The ceremony took place at the Francois Ferreira Academy, which is located at the Mount View Resort in George.

Councillors and Management of Garden Route District Municipality and Mr Francois Ferreira, Head of the Francois Ferreira Academy of Culinary Arts, with the Cater Care students who graduated on Friday, 31 January 2020 in George.

The purpose of this collaborative programme between GRDM and the Francois Ferreira Academy is to address the high rate of unemployment within the Garden Route district through the Cater Care Training programme.  The course commenced on 4 September 2019 and concluded on 29 November 2019. During this period, the programme required all students to attend classes from Mondays to Thursdays from 8:30 to 15:00. It was expected from each student to attend class in uniform supplied to them while in training at a wing of the academy which is based in Oubaai, George.

“Take your eagle wings and fly”

Executive Deputy Mayor of GRDM, Cllr Rosina Ruiters, during her keynote address at the event.

During her keynote address at the event, Executive Deputy Mayor of GRDM, Cllr Rosina Ruiters, said: “A total of R350 000 was funded by the GRDM to train previously disadvantaged individuals in the Cater Care Programme with the intent to equip people to access jobs in the local Hospitality industry and Tourism sector”. She furthermore shared a motivational message with students and referred to the story of the eagle that was raised by a chicken and explained: “The chicken found a lost egg not knowing where it came from and then brooded the egg to become like a chicken”.  With these words Cllr Ruiters encouraged all students: “Take your eagle wings and fly – do not become a chicken”.

At the event, it became evident, that this journey was not only for students to be awarded with another certificate, but it served as proof of their overall passion and enthusiasm for the industry. This became known when two former students, Jackson Lencoe and David Griffins, shared their personal stories with the audience. Lencoe encouraged the students with the words: “If you want something, you have to be relentless and creative.” He furthermore shared words of appreciation to the Academy and GRDM who helped him discover the chef in him.  David Griffins furthermore said:  “I appreciate the opportunity provided to me” and shared these words with the students: “When I entered the academy, I knew nothing about being a chef, but with positive attitude and determination, everything else will follow; I learned, practised and never gave up,” he concluded.

Head of the Francois Fereirra Academy, Mr Francois Ferreira, focused predominantly on work ethics when entering the workplace, during his speech.

Adding to the words of Cllr Ruiters and the former students, the Head of the Academy, Mr Francois Ferreira, applauded all members of the team for their sheer commitment and congratulated them with the following words: “All of you worked very well throughout the course. We could see it in your theory and practical marks, with the lowest class percentage of 67% and the highest at 91%. Very well done”, he cheered. Mr Ferreira also sensitised all students and said that now becomes the harder part of finding permanent employment. To all who are not employed, he said: “Search for opportunities who fits your skills set and to students who are already employed, he said: “Look after your jobs as it is so skaars soos hoendertande”. He concluded: “You must have the right attitude and the right work ethic. Work hard at creating your career with the opportunity provided to you by Garden Route District Municipality”.

The ceremony concluded when Mr Ferreira extended a word of gratitude to the representatives of GRDM when he said:  “Thank you for taking hands with us to improve the lives of our youth in the Garden Route”.

National Minister of Health – Update on Novel Coronavirus (2019-nC0V)

Date: 2 February 2020

The Department of Health, South Africa, continues to closely monitor the rapidly evolving developments surrounding the Coronavirus outbreak.

We confirm that there is no case of Novel Coronavirus in South Africa.

We continue to intensify screening at all ports of entry with a particular focus on our major air ports of entry. Evidence continues to support this approach as the vast majority of cases are introduced into territories outside of China by air travelers.

Evidence continues to suggest that asymptomatic individuals are highly unlikely to transmit the virus.
There has been some emerging developments in the past twenty four hours that will need to be investigated in detail to inform our state of preparedness:
Germany has reported the first case of third generation transmission of the virus.
The first death outside of China was reported in the Philippines- the 44-year-old gentlemen was a resident of Wuhan city who had travelled to the Philippines.

The virus has been cultured from stool for the first time from a patient who only presented with diarrhoea and no other symptoms. This has raised the possibility of feaco-oral transmission. The best way to prevent any infection that can be transmitted by the faeco-oral route is regular handwashing – in particular for breast or bottle feeding mothers. Therefore the message of regular hand washing cannot be stressed enough. We will very closely follow the emerging academic literature on this development.
There have been false claims that experts are encouraging people to get flu-shots to prevent Novel Coronavirus. I wish to stress that there is, at this stage, no vaccine for Novel Coronavirus although there is a lot of work going into developing a vaccine.

There is still no recommendation to restrict travel or trade with China. We have not put any restriction on travel or trade between China and South Africa although we do continue to advise that non-essential travel should be delayed until the situation abates.

The Chinese authorities keep us and the World Health Organization (WHO) regularly appraised of developments around the outbreak itself and the situation pertaining to our citizens living in China. Our Mission in China is well supported: a 24-hour telephone and online contact has been established. Food security for Wuhan City continues to be protected. We understand that the Chinese holiday and school and university holidays have been extended to limit movement between Chinese districts. Therefore we would encourage all our citizens who have been planning to go back to work or school in China to delay their return until further notice.

We wish to congratulate Universal Safety Products for their pledge to assist China to replenish their face mask stocks. We call on the private sector at large to follow this example as nations come together to fight the spread of Novel Coronavirus in the wake of the WHO proclamation of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

African countries outside of South Africa will make their own pronouncements on their response to the Novel Coronavirus and we expect that, should there be a confirmed case, we will hear from the affected country’s authorities or the WHO.

Basic health prevention strategies remain the mainstay of controlling the spread of the Novel Coronavirus: avoid contact with someone that exhibits flu-like symptoms; regular hand washing; do not sneeze or cough into your hand – rather use another barrier; hygienic food preparation and not consuming undercooked or raw meat.

Reliable, credible information on the Novel Coronavirus can obtained from the WHO website and social media pages, the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) website and social media pages and the Department of Health website and social media pages. We continue to receive a high number of calls through the designated hospitals and the clinicians 24-hour hotline.

The Emergency Opening Centre remains activated.

ENDS

For further information:
Dr Lwazi Manzi
MLO Minister of Health
082 678 8979

Click to view previous article.

GRDM employees start 2020 on a healthy note

On Friday, 17 January 2020, the Western Cape Department of Health and Virgin Active visited the Garden Route District Municipality Head Office to share various health-related information with management and employees to kick the year off on a healthy note.

Officials during the information session conducted by representatives from Virgin Active.

Early in the morning, representatives from Virgin Active presented the following topics to the staff included: How to find time for your health, exercise guidelines, nutrition and how to improve your eating habits, as well as benefits of exercise for your well-being. Soon after, health-screening tests followed, which staff who were present could fully utilise. Tests included: weight & measurements, blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, voluntary HIV tests and pap-smears.

To conclude the activities of the morning, Virgin Active continued by facilitating a 30 minute Zumba session of which more than 50 staff members participated in. The session left employees with soaking-wet faces and soggy clothes, while feeling revitalized and motivated. To conclude the activities of the day, various prizes were awarded, fruits and health beverages handed out. The event was successfully organised by the District’s Wellness Section’s Employee Assistance Practitioner, Ms Shandré Abrahams.

GRDM Mayor welcomes WC MEC of Transport and Public Works during Road Safety roadshow

On Friday, 17 January 2020 , the Executive Mayor of the Garden Route, Cllr Memory Booysen, welcomed the Western Cape Minister of Transport and Public Works, Mr Bonginkosi Madikizela to the district, as part of his visit the district to discuss road safety initiatives and law enforcement integration plans.

 

MEC Bongikosi Madikizela, Executive Mayors, Municipal Managers, as well as Municipal officials during the visit and the welcoming of the MEC to the Garden Route district.

The roadshow is an initiative of the MEC to address his concerns about the high number of fatalities happening on municipal roads. Preliminary statistics for the period 1 to 31 December 2019 indicate that the Western Cape has recorded a decrease in the number of fatalities, with a total of 111 deaths, compared to 167 in December 2018. Of these, 71 deaths happened on municipal roads.

The Roadshow was attended by Executive Mayors, Municipal Managers and officials from municipalities in the Garden Route district, including traffic officials from George Municipality.

GRDM to host IDP/Budget and PMS Representative Forum meeting

The Executive Mayor of Garden Route District Municipality, Cllr Memory Booysen, invites all stakeholders to an IDP/Budget and PMS Representative Forum meeting.

At the event, all Mayors within the District will be outlining their projects and programmes for their respective areas. Furthermore, all sector departments in the Western Cape will have an opportunity to also present their projects and programmes for implementation in the Garden Route district.

The Forum is scheduled to take place as follows:

Date: 23 January 2020
Time: 10:00am
Venue: George Municipality Civic Hall

For further information, please contact the District IDP Manager Mzukisi Cekiso at mzukisi@gardenroute.gov.za.

Western Cape Government Logo

Matric First Work Experience PAY Internship Opportunities 2020/2021 – open 6 to 17 January 2020

Application for our Matric First Work Experience PAY Internship Opportunities 2020/2021 opens 6 January and closes 17 January 2020. The programme will provide matriculants between the ages of 17 – 24 with work experience and training within one of the 13 Western Cape Government Departments beginning 1 April 2020 until 31 March 2021.

Click here to apply

Qualifying criteria:

  • 24 years old or younger.
  • wrote and passed the National Senior Certificate (NSC) in the Western Cape.
  • not going to study further in 2020.
  • South African citizen, residing in the Western Cape.
  • no support network to help you make informed career choices.
  • not sure of your next step after school.
  • financially constrained.

What will you achieve?

  • Work experience in the public sector.
  • Contactable references for your brand new CV.
  • A set of skills and experiences that will make you more marketable and employable.
  • A year in which to make informed career choices together with a network to back it up.

Make it happen

  • Application open 6 January and closes 17 January 2020

Application tips

  • If you don’t have an email address, create one at a free email site like Gmail or Yahoo. You will need it to apply.
  • You have to register first before you can apply.
  • Once you have registered successfully, you’ll receive a username (your email address) and password (one-time pin number).
  • Use the username and password to login and complete the application.
  • After completion of the application, you will receive a message: ‘You have successfully applied for the PAY Project internship.
  • Please save your username and password in a secure place so that you are able to access it should you need to.
  • Find out more by reading our Recruitment Guide.

We’ll be verifying each applicant’s National Senior Certificate (NSC) results with the Western Cape Education Department as well as any other relevant documentation.

Applicants will only be appointed once they’ve passed a security check, which includes having their fingerprints taken.

Applicants must ensure that they open bank accounts before undergoing a personal security check.

Applicants must also ensure that they register with SARS to obtain a tax number before the personnel security check.

For more information on the recruitment process, read the full 2020 PAY recruitment guide.

Issued by: Western Cape Government

NOTICE OF 2018/2019 ANNUAL REPORT& 2018/2019 OVERSIGHT REPORT

Notice is hereby given in terms of Section 129(3) of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act 56 of 2003) that the Garden Route District Municipal Council hereby makes public the Oversight report on the Annual Report of Council for the 2018/2019 financial year.

The Oversight Report and 2018/2019 Annual Report were adopted by Council on 13 December 2019. The Annual Report was drafted in accordance with Circular 63 of the MFMA Act 56 of 2003.

The Oversight Report and 2018/2019 Annual Report is available at the IDP unit of the Garden Route District Municipality and can also be viewed on the Garden Route Municipality’s website at www.gardenroute.gov.za.

Click here to download the full advertisement.

For further enquiries, please contact: Mr M Cekiso (IDP Unit) Tel no: 044 803 1431

M STRATU

MUNICPAL MANAGER

GARDEN ROUTE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY

NOTICE NR  142/2019